As I reflect on my vegetable garden, now four seasons in, I’m reconsidering some of the choices I made when I first planted it. There are definitely a few things that need tweaking. For instance, the wire fence I put up to keep wildlife away is starting to sag and collapse. Plus, two of my perennial beds are mostly shaded by a willow tree, which hasn’t been great for the plants there. While some crops are thriving, I realize it’s time to take action if I want them to continue doing well.
One plant that’s really stood out is my beautiful rhubarb. It’s grown stronger each year, with more stems and a wider crown—so much so that it’s even pushing against that sagging fence. Now that autumn has arrived and the rhubarb has gone dormant, it’s the perfect moment to divide it.
Rhubarb tends to exhaust itself after about four or five years, leading to a decline in the quality of its stems. By dividing it, I can cultivate fresh, robust stalks. Although it’s possible to grow rhubarb from seed, that process takes much longer before you can harvest anything.
Dividing rhubarb, while a bit dramatic, is quite simple. It involves vegetative propagation, where you create a new plant by removing part of the parent plant. This method produces a genetic clone rather than relying on seeds developed through the usual pollination and fertilization.
To divide the rhubarb, I need to carefully dig it up, ensuring that I excavate the crown without damaging it. If the soil is dry, it’s a good idea to water the plant a few days beforehand. Using a garden spade or fork, I’ll dig around the rhubarb to free it from the ground. It’s okay if a few roots get cut in the process.
Once it’s out, I’ll use my spade or even an old bread knife to slice the crown into sections, making sure each piece has enough of the root system and at least one growth point. Then, I can either plant them directly in their new locations or pot them in large containers filled with compost, ensuring that the crown sits level with the soil surface. I’ve found that segments from the outer crown tend to do better than those from the center.
While growing rhubarb from seed is an option, it takes much longer for those plants to mature enough for harvesting. In contrast, the divided crowns will typically take just about a year to establish before I can start enjoying some rhubarb crumble again. Admittedly, dividing my single rhubarb plant means I’ll be without it next season, but I’m excited for the future bounty it promises.
